Iraqi Soldiers Prove Their Worth

RAMADI — Iraqi Soldiers patrolled the Nazer Canal for weapons caches independent of Coalition support Monday.

According to Iraqi Army Maj. Ani, an intelligence officer of 1st Battalion, 1st Brigade, 7th Iraqi Army Division, the mission to find weapons caches was a demonstration of the Iraqi Army’s capability of hunting down the weapons caches of insurgents attacking Ramadi.

While most operations are conducted in a joint effort between Iraqi and Coalition forces, the Iraqi Soldiers operated independently in this mission after months learning from their Coalition counterparts.

“We’re here today to sweep the banks for caches,” Ani said. “There have been mortars, improvised explosive devices and small-arms weapons found here in the past because insurgents use this area a lot.”

Patrolling on their own, Iraqi Army Soldiers arrived after dawn to explore the shores of the Euphrates River for anything suspicious.

The Iraqi Soldiers assessed the area and decided to divide into two teams, who each went separate directions to cover more ground while searching the banks of the river.

“You find lots of munitions during searches like this,” said Ani. “We find something almost daily. Earlier today, we found a rocket wired with some detonation cord, which could have killed many people.”

(Photo: An Iraqi Soldier with 1st Battalion, 1st Brigade, 7th Iraqi Army Division scans the riverbanks during an Iraqi Army patrol along the Nazer Canal Monday. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Ricardo Branch, 1st Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs.)

Read the Rest...